Medical Transport Information for Social Workers in Canada

Comprehensive Guide to Medical Transport Options in Canada for Social Workers

Social workers are a vital link in assisting patient’s home to where they need to be. Medical Transport from hospital to hospital can be a complex process, fraught with difficulty and challenge as you navigate various processes involved in arranging private medical transportation for your client, especially over long distances.

As a social worker or hospital case manager, you are likely to be tasked at some point with arranging an air ambulance or medical flight home for your patient. Here is some important information to guide you through the process of arranging a medical transport in Canada.

Table of Contents

• Methods of Transport
• Inter-Provincial Air Ambulance
• Receiving Facility Requirements
• Funding for Medical Transport
• Long Distance Ground Ambulance
• Commercial Airline Medical Transport
• Commercial Airline Stretcher Transfers
• Summary and Next Steps

Methods of Transport

Top of mind for our customers and the number one inquiry that we receive is often about a private air ambulance medical flight. Generally, a private medevac is the most expensive medical transport option in Canada. However, four options exist for medical transport in Canada:

• Private Air Ambulance Transfer
• Commercial Airline Medical Escort
• Long Distance Ground Ambulance
• Commercial Airline Stretcher Transfer

Each method offers unique benefits depending on the patient’s condition, distance, and financial resources.

Inter-Provincial Air Ambulance

Air ambulance flights between provinces are not covered by medical benefits such as provincial healthcare insurance plans, nor is transfer on a commercial airline with a medical escort or by long distance ground ambulance. If a patient requires an emergency air ambulance within the Province, this type of service is arranged for by the province. However, provincial air ambulance systems do not support the transfer of patients between provinces or out-of-country, nor does the provincial medical insurance system cover out of province medical transfer. This is where private air medical transport becomes the best option to repatriate the patient home. WPEMS provides private air ambulance services across Canada, from medical transport bases in Vancouver, Calgary and Toronto.

Receiving Facility Requirements

Before the patient can be safely transferred, arrangements must be made for an accepting facility and Physician in the patient’s local area. Arranging for an accepting hospital can be a difficult and time-consuming process. Like many hospitals in Canada, capacity is always an issue. Therefore, as part of arranging for a receiving facility for the patient, a medical transport plan should be in place for the patient, so that you can act quickly when a bed becomes available. Hospital beds are often offered on a “use it or lose it” basis, hence why having transport options and arrangements on standby for your patient well in advance is necessary. For instance, RAAPID South and RAAPID North in Alberta will not open a bed find for a patient unless they are assured that transport arrangements have been considered in advance.

Funding for Medical Transport

Funding can come from a variety of sources. However, often it can be financially difficult for the patient or their family to pay for their medical repatriation. The illness or injury that brought them to the hospital was likely sudden and unexpected. And, as Canadians, chances are if travelling within Canada, the patient or their family did not consider taking out travel insurance. After all, medical care in Canada is often covered, except air ambulance transport between provinces.

Sources of funding for private medical transports in Canada include:

• The patient or the patient’s family
• Private Health Insurance such as Blue Cross
• From the sending medical facility or health authority who funds the transfer (speak to your manager about this option)

For patients who are in your facility from out-of-province, this likely means that they are occupying vital hospital capacity that is intended for local residents. Additionally, the patient may wish to recover faster, and quicker in their home community.

Medical Transport Options

The first thing that often comes to mind is an air ambulance. However, other options exist that may be suitable for the patient such as using a commercial airline flight with Air Canada or WestJet, with an RN or Paramedic Medical Escort. As well, depending on the distances involved, a long distance ground ambulance may be an appropriate method of transport as well.

Long Distance Ground Ambulance

The most common long distance ground ambulance transport routes are between British Columbia and Alberta, or between Saskatchewan and Alberta. Western Pacific Emergency Response covers all of these areas with our fleet of long distance ground ambulances, staffed with Paramedics, and Registered Nurses as required.

Commercial Airline Medical Transport

Working with the airlines to medically transport your patient can be complex. Special airline medical clearances and permissions are required, in addition to managing patient-specific details with the airline such as wheelchair assistance, and permission to bring oxygen on board the flight.

Western Pacific Emergency Response works with all major airlines to transfer patients in business class seating with a medical escort. Medical escorts include Registered Nurses and Paramedics who are specially trained in aeromedical transport, and flight physiology, as well ACLS certification and other vital medical and patient assessment skills.

We work directly with the airlines such as Air Canada to coordinate all logistics, including ground transfers and ambulances to and from the airport.

Commercial Airline Stretcher Transfers

Many international airlines offer stretcher service between major connecting points. Airlines that offer stretcher service to and from Canada include Lufthansa, Turkish Airlines, Air New Zealand, Cathay Pacific, Air France and KLM, Emirates, and Air India, just to name a few.

A commercial airline stretcher is as described – a stretcher installed on the plane so that the patient can remain “in bed” during the flight, under the care of the medical transport team to their international destination. Contact WPEMS today to discuss this option.

Summary and Next Steps

Social workers in Canada have multiple private medical transport options to support their patients. Western Pacific Emergency Response offers air ambulance, long-distance ground ambulance, and commercial airline transport services tailored to your needs. Book your ambulance or contact us today to learn more.

For additional information, visit our services page on Mobile Treatment Centres or our Ground Ambulance Services.

Explore more about healthcare options in Canada by visiting Canada Public Health.